IFRIQIYA

Ifriqiya the home to my spirit-
its land writes sonnets of a fallen poet.
Every phrase, every verse spoken with pain-
every wetness from their eyes- drips like rain.
Swollen with fear their fingers write-
thoughts and emotions drained from their blood day and night.
Ifriqiya the home to my spirit- its land writes sonnets of a fallen poet.
Every stanza is filled with words so true-
drifting in the reality of a dream that's through.
Pages tinted from the tears of their strength
tinted with stains that neglect both life and death
The secrecy of their cries- in between the lines
hidden in the diction of politics- their truth hides
The octave of bitterness-
Stringed in the Sestet of blindness
“Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika”
Home to my Spirit- Ifriqiya.
an ending couplet of hope- for our home.
Ifriqiya the home to my spirit-
its land writes sonnets of a fallen poet.
penless warriors stand at the gates of peace
with darkened ink - written and plagued in what they please
words and tears of a proud motherland
composed by her betrayed land
“Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika”
Home to my Spirit- Ifriqiya.
Ifriqiya the home to my spirit-
its land writes sonnets of a fallen poet.

No tears will fall from these eyes

I wrote you a letter in the back of my mind
solace after pain- I did find
sad love letters sealed with wounds
my thoughts caressed where aches soothed
lying at the edge of prayer- my swollen knees
Dear Lord- help me please.
hoping that I can forget-
everything done and said.
I may fall, I may weep
my skin has been cut too deep.
The hollow heart I left behind
God whispered- "Dear child rise"
and hence I did realise-
that although my heart was caged in a frame-
when first love came-
No tears would fall from these eyes.
My palms clenched around my thoughts
gazing at my faults
Before I step over this mountain - I pray I rise
I pray I begin to think otherwise.
And just when I thought, I'd see heaven's gates
I felt a sudden change in storm- devil's bait
the breeze hastened to a gentle whisper
come hither,
I was not alone-
I felt his grace- God was taking me home.
The hollow heart I left behind
God whispered- "Dear child rise"
and hence I did realise-
that although my heart was caged in a frame-
when first love came-
No tears would fall from these eyes.
In his arms angels slept-
In my strength- his will - I kept
Given all there is to give- all I did lose-
Yet with my loss- eternity I did choose
maybe in haste my value breaks- every past mistake
every honest bone in me ached-
no longer afraid- I walk in faith
The hollow heart I left behind
God whispered- "Dear child rise"
and hence I did realise-
that although my heart was caged in a frame-
when first love came-
No tears would fall from these eyes.

Secret Lantern

In the thick depths of emotions- secrets destroy
Heart-felt mysteries enrage their convoy.
Every trace of vicodin throttles bitter veins
Every ache is like a bullet with the weight of cranes.
Powerless meanders with meek-
Stenches of strength remain weak.
Secrets – eat away at the flesh like vultures
Wounded, bleeding to death - tied in merciless sutures.
Secret lantern-at the bottom of this ocean- every breath hides
A dim light- that no-one can find.
Secret lantern that holds- so much- that hasn’t been told-
Every ray – has a whisper it longs to unfold.
Entangled in blood and veins, veins and blood
Every trace- leaves heartless trails in the stolen mud
In the thick depths of emotions- secrets destroy
Heart-felt mysteries enrage their convoy.
Wounded, bleeding to death -tied in merciless sutures
Secrets – eat away at the flesh like vultures.

A love story

Looking into the sky with its million cat eyes,
over night the essence of love is sealed, within a ring of great size.
Luring thoughts and ideas of enticing intentions,
where two minds in love fulfil sensual inventions.
Marriage is the thought, “will you marry me”, are the words,     
as their souls combine to sing songs of mutual lovebirds.
Utter heaven! A Haven! Utopia! Subtle paradise!
As one man to one woman confesses, for my wife I shall pay the price.
Slipping a ruby ring on her finger whilst gazing in her eyes,
believing every word he had said, she thought he’d never tell lies.
They lay through the night as lovers do,
from dusk till dawn the hours seemed too few.
For years and years their love blossomed and grew,
who would have thought this love was untrue?
Who would have thought all good things come to an end?
That overnight this maiden would lose her friend.
It’s true at first he seemed like her divine jewel,
but after a few years this jewel became cruel.
The man she knew and loved, she grew to hate.
Could this have been destiny or misfortunes fate?
A man once so dear, trustworthy and real,
His warm tender love she could no longer feel.
Like seasons, their summer turned into winter.
Their love had blossomed and now began to wither.
She had always thought they’d walk pace with pace,
but with tears in her eyes, he turned his face.
“But you promised”, she whispered sadly
looking into his eyes searching for mercy.
Love he had promised, love he had sworn,
But that day all that love had gone.
Yesterday’s confessed love was tomorrow’s pain.
A transaction of love without any gain.
Denial, betrayal, anguish and hurt,
A fatal tragedy from his first flirt.
But like all flowers do, they grow and die,
and like with love, their knot did untie.

(*First poem to be published in 2005)

Daddy Remains in Spirit

It's been a few hours since your body lay still.
Yet those hours seem like days.
A sudden absence robs me of tears.
Although in spirit you are and shall remain.

I sit here and reminisce of all our good times.
All the memories I'm going to miss.
Gone are the days when you brought laughter.
Yet in my heart you continue to exist.

I will always walk your unforgotten lane.
Till in the heavens we meet again.

Words said too late, I know.
But it's hard to believe daddy's no more.
Vivid thoughts of the love you gave.
These words "rest in peace", I shall engrave.

In the midst of the heaven's in the sky.
I'm sending this poem to say goodbye.